kicked ball to DBT

[Manny A]

I still feel this should be treated as a deflected batted ball that goes into DBT. The fielder never possessed it, it was still considered a batted ball since he/she never had it in his/her possession, and he/she unintentionally deflected it.

Unless there's a specific case play saying that when a defensive player provides additional impetus to a ball that causes it to go into DBT where it otherwise would not have, treat it as a "thrown" ball, then we can't just make up that ruling.

This is the NCAA case play I mentioned above.

A.R. 9-40. A pitched ball is rolling on the ground as the catcher, while trying to retrieve it, accidently [sic] kicks the ball into dugout. Is it still a pitch with only a one base award? Does it matter if the pitch is no longer is moving when there’s contact with the catcher?
RULING: It is considered a pitch until it becomes a batted ball or is thrown by the catcher. The award to base runners would be one base and it does not matter if the ball, at the time of the contact with the catcher, was moving or stationary.
(Rule 9.11)

[chapmaja]

Originally Posted by Manny A

I still feel this should be treated as a deflected batted ball that goes into DBT. The fielder never possessed it, it was still considered a batted ball since he/she never had it in his/her possession, and he/she unintentionally deflected it.

Unless there's a specific case play saying that when a defensive player provides additional impetus to a ball that causes it to go into DBT where it otherwise would not have, treat it as a "thrown" ball, then we can't just make up that ruling.

This is the NCAA case play I mentioned above.

I was going to post something on this as well, but wasn't sure on the fact when she went to pick it up it was kicked out of play. That second impetus is what makes it a challenging play.

[josephrt1]

Manny, The same scenario you post from NCAA was on the 2016 USA/ASA Softball exam and the correct answer was that it was 1 base because it had not been possessed after the pitch. So I agree with you (Manny) on the ball to the outfield, it should still be considered a deflected batted ball. Ruling that a kick of a batted ball is treated like a thrown ball is inconsistent with this 2016 test question.

With no outs and R1 on 3B, R2 on 2B and B3 at bat, F1 throws a wild pitch that gets away from F2 and stops a few feet from
the dugout entrance. As F2 is going to retrieve the ball she accidentally kicks the ball sending it into dead ball territory
inside the dugout.
a. Umpire should let play continue allowing F2 to retrieve the ball and attempt to make a play on the runners.
b. Umpire signals and verbalizes “Dead ball” and awards both runners home since the ball was kicked into dead ball
territory making it a two base award.
c. Umpire signals and verbalizes “Dead ball” and sends both runners back to the base they legally occupied at the time of
the pitch.
(d.) Umpire signals and verbalizes “Dead ball” and awards R1 home and R2 3B since the ball is still considered to be a
pitched ball.

[Tru_in_Blu]

A pitched ball vs a batted ball is the differentiating aspect. "Possession" really doesn't factor in.

What happens when F5 dives to the right to try an catch a line drive which deflects off the glove over fair territory and then goes into DBT? Two base award.

What happens when a batted ball that lands fair down a foul line and then rolls beyond a temporary fence that stopped at the foul line? Two base award.

What happens when a batted ball hits the outfield fence on the fly, bounces back off the chest of the fielder and then bounces over the fence. Two base award.

What happens when an outfielder dives after a base hit down a line in an attempt to not let it get by, but the ball deflects off the glove into DBT? Two base award.

What happens when an outfielder dives feet first after a base hit down a line in an attempt to not let it get by, but the ball deflects off the foot, shin, knee, or head into DBT? Two base award.

None of the above include possession. All of the above are a two base award.

[Tru_in_Blu]

We did go through this a while ago.

This post began on a different subject, i.e. USSSA award for a kicked ball to DBT and then went on a bit of a tangent.

Here's the past post: https://forum.officiating.com/softba...ll-status.html